Minister says FG remains committed to social security

The Federal Government on Monday renewed its commitment to providing social security to enhance all members of the working across the country.

The Minister of Labour and employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this at the ongoing International Trade Union Congress (ITUC-Africa) Regional Conference on ``Advancing Decent Work in Global Supply Chain in Africa’’ in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in collaboration with ITUC-Africa.

ITUC-Africa is the international organisation that represents 180 million workers in 162 countries and territories with 333 national affiliates of which the NLC is one.

Ngige, who was represented at the function by Mrs Chinedu Dike, Director Trade, Dispute and Industrial Relations in the ministry, said that the government was also committed to granting rights at work to workers.

The minister said that the conference represented a prelude to confronting one of the critical challenges facing African workers in their pursuit of relative happiness and in achieving one of the most critical basic things of human needs as members of the society.

He said that the initiative provides a forum for germane issues to be discussed bearing in mind the enormous implication on effective administration in Africa.

``Government is committed to job creation, social protection and promoting social dialogue which would be given top priority in the present administration,’’ Ngige said.

In her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, said her office would partner with the NLC to ensure that welfare was given a top priority.

Oyo-Ita, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Audu, an Assistant Director, Industrial Relations, called on the labour to continue to collaborate with the government on the improvement of welfare and well-being of every worker.

She expressed the hope that the outcome of the meeting would be beneficial to the advancement of decent work in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day conference ends on Tuesday.